Max Muncy: Pole Vaulter
An extremely exciting week: a sweep, a showdown, and a history of Max Muncy as a pole vaulter.
Max Muncy vs the Colorado Rockies
April 13 – Dodger Home Run Derby
Max came to bat after Corey Seager and Chris Taylor hit back to back homers in the first. Muncy took first on a five pitch walk from the rattled Rockies pitcher Antonio Senzatela but was left on base before he could come around to score. In the top of the second, Max made a hell of a catch at the first baseline net. It was a much needed out after Bauer walked the first two batters of the inning. The Dodgers would get out of the inning without a run crossing the plate.
In the fourth, Max knocked an RBI double into left field to score Corey Seager with one out and bring the score to 0-6, Dodgers. In the sixth inning, Max blasted his second home run of the season into deep center, bringing the score to 0-7, Dodgers, where it would remain for the rest of the game.
Max was one of four Dodgers to hit home runs this night in a decisive victory over the Rockies.
April 14 – Max Muncy, Pole Vaulter
As exciting as the Boys in Blue are, more than a few Dodger fans found themselves flipping channels or streams over to the White Sox-Cleveland game to watch Carlos Rodón pitcher a near-perfect no hitter. Baseball as a whole winced when Rodón clipped Cleveland catcher Roberto Perez on the back foot to break up the perfect game in the ninth and Dodger fans were no exception.
Back in Los Angeles, Muncy had a much less exciting night, only getting on base once in the fifth on a five pitch walk. Much more interesting was the story that Joe Davis told about Max. Apparently when Max Muncy was in grade school, he was a pole vaulter. His parents convinced him to give it up because they were afraid he was going to snap the pole. Considering the number of times Max has power slammed into a catcher to cross home like an absolute brick house, it was probably the right choice.
The Dodgers pulled out a 2-4 victory over the Rox.
April 15 – Go Ahead Homer on Jackie Robinson Day
The Dodgers and Rockies swapped leads a few times on homers in early innings. Muncy walked in the fifth, but was left on base. In the seventh, Muncy stepped up to the plate with two on and two outs. On the third pitch, Muncy knocked a three run go-ahead homer to right center, scoring both Turner and Taylor before he trotted across the plate.
The Dodgers beat the Rockies 5-7 and swept the series. As many on Twitter said, it’s practically illegal for the Dodgers to lose on Jackie’s special day. This year, Max made sure it was’t a possibility.
Max Muncy vs the San Diego Padres
April 16 – Playoffs in April
Muncy came to the plate a total of six times in this insane game. At the plate, he didn’t have much going on in early innings. He reached in a Fielder’s Choice in the sixth and was brought in to score by Chris Taylor on a Fernando Tatís Jr., error. He worked a seven pitch walk in the eighth, but was left on base.
Muncy’s brightest moment truly came in the tenth inning, when a he decisively handled a dustup between Dodger reliever Dennis Santana and pinch hitter Jorge Mateo. Santana clipped Mateo on the hip and Mateo took exception. They faced off and home plate umpire Mark Ripperger stepped between the two players. With tensions already tight, the benches cleared. Muncy came charging in from first base and straight up freight trained Santana away from the fight, effectively busting up what might have been a nasty brawl. By the time the bull pens came in (and a fan got tackled by security for running onto the field), the scuffle was effectively over. We should all be so lucky to have a friend like Max at our back.
Max was also a part of the twelfth inning five run rally. He singled to center and was move to second on a Taylor hit with a fielding error from Tatís. A McKinstry RBI moved him to third and a Luke Raley single brought him home to make the score 10-6.
Dodgers would ultimately win the game 11-6 over the Friars.
April 17 – Erratic Strike Zone Screws Both Teams
Max had a rather dismal night at the plate, but so did HP umpire Tom Hallion, who called a very erratic zone. Look, I will always defend an umpire against wrongful slander, but Hallion had a Real Bad Day behind the batter’s box. This is the second time we have seen this crew and they have disappointed before. If umpire crews are on a similar track as last year and we spend significantly more seasons with this crew, it’s going to be a very long season.
Erratic strike zone aside, Max didn’t reach base all night. He had two strike outs and two ground outs. He did have an excellent sticky-toed catch on a high toss from pitcher Blake Treinen in the 8th. Eric Hosmer hit a soft tapper that rolled along the first base line. Treinen threw high to avoid the runner, a little too high. Muncy stretches full out to snag the ball while keeping his toe firmly on first base.
One other thing of note from this game. Whomever runs the Padres sound system is definitely on Twitter. After Muncy’s first at bat of the night, the stadium DJ played Werewolves of London – a reference to the wolf gifs many fans post after a Mad Max bomb over the fences.
Dodgers shut out the Padres 2-0.
April 18 – You Can’t Win ‘Em All
The Dodgers were ahead or tied for most of the game, but both teams looked rather tired. The Padres finally pulled ahead in the bottom of the 8th. 2-5. The Dodgers were unable to answer in the 9th.
It’s ok, boys. Eight wins in a row is pretty good.
WEEKLY STATS:
BA: .302
OPS: .995
R: 4 (12)
Hits: 4 (16)
RBI: 5 (10)
AB: 21 (53)
BB: 4 (13)
2B: 1 (2)
3B: 0 (1)
HR: 2 (3)
SB: 0 (0)
For more on Muncy’s stats, click here.
To read about the Max-McKinstry M&M good luck charm, click here.
Responses